Plan “B” gets the green light

[Ser Clegane]

As for the choice of the term abortion versus contraception... the morning after pill, as I understand it, doesn't prevent fertilization. It prevents the attachement of the egg to the uterine lining after fertilization.

According to information provided by Barr (pdf-document), the principal effects of Plan B are prevention of ovulation or fertilization (which would clearly qualify it as contraceptive to my knowledge), and the inhibition of implantation is only a secondary effect (I do not have the sufficient knowledge but my assumption would be, that which effect dominates depends on when within the 72h you use the drug)
Of course you can always doubt the statements of the pharma company (especially as for marketing on the North American market Barr certainly is very keen on emphasizing the contraceptive nature of the drug), but I will use this information as a basis for discussion as it is 11pm and I do not have the time to look for more independent reports

But honestly Ser, how many drugs are safer that DO require a presription? Where's the outcry over these?

Do you have any specific cases in mind or is this a hypothesis?
Don't get me wrong - I have no doubt that every pharma company wants to play down risks and hopes to get drugs on the market without prescription - but so far I have no indication that this specific drug is treated differently than others - do you have more information?

I find it the height of hypocricy that a school nurse cannot give a 17 year old female a Pamprin, but her 12 year old sister can go get a 2nd trimester abortion without her parents ever even being told, let alone consenting to it. If we really believe kids can make that kind of decision for themselves, why don't we set the age of majority to 12 and have done with it? What's so special about abortion that kids seem to have better judgement with it then they would with tobacco, alcohol, firearms, voting gambling or any other age restricted behviors? Hell, let's sign them all up for selective service (the draft pool, but not necessarily drafted) while we're at it.

And here I can only agree. That's why I think that the decsioon is a good compromise. I would oppose allowing a teenager to have an abortion without at least having to consult her parents or legal guardian (of course it is another issue who can finally make the decision - I also would have a problem with parents being able to force their daughter to deliver a baby, but that's another discussion).
I think below 18 a girl should either need a prescription or the consent of her parents (due to the rather tight 72h time frame I would prefer to leave open the choice between the two options instead of prescription being the only option)